1001 Album Complaints

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Creedence Clearwater Revival was a hit-making force to be reckoned with in the late 1960s and was at their most powerful on Cosmo's Factory . The boys discuss John Fogerty's singing voice, the wisdom of covering already classic songs, and writing wholesome songs that sound like they're about drugs. Email...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. U2 had achieved worldwide success in the 1980s but was struggling with their next step when they decided to head to a recently reunited Berlin to work on Achtung Baby . The fellows discuss Edge's guitar tones, Brian Eno's production style, and boring root note bass lines. Email us your complaints (or ques...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Bjork started studying and making music at a very young age, cycling through several genres before heading into the studio for "Debut". The chaps discuss Bjork's various singing styles, early 90's house music, and an army of saxophones. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumCompla...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Aretha was born to be a star, but first she had a tough life filled with pre-teen pregnancy and abuse. The team welcome a special guest and discuss piano chord voicings, tambourine takes, and the power of rewriting an intro. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.c...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Paul Simon was high off of a successful reunion concert in Central Park when Simon and Garfunkel decide to work together on a comeback album - but the relationship falls apart quickly and Hearts and Bones is the Paul Simon solo record we got instead. The team discuss re-using old song ideas, pleasant prog...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Michael Jackson had been a huge success since childhood, but Thriller made him the King of Pop. Heading into the studio with Quincy Jones, Michael knew the pressure was on as they attempted to make an album containing 100% singles. The team discuss key modulations, the pressures (and steps) of the mixing...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Ghostbeef knew they had to tell the story of how a fast food franchise came to rule us all with a meaty fist. In a very special episode today, we dive into the making of The Chop Unlimited's latest album release "GhostBeef" (available everywhere as of Oct 24th, 2022). We spend each week complaining about...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Elvis Presley was just 18 years old when he recorded his first hit record for Sun Records, and 18 short months later he was a national phenomenon. In the space between he finished the recordings for this self-titled debut album which purposely leaves off his hit singles. The boys discuss early slap back e...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. New York Dolls were New York famous and highly influential during their relatively short tenure as a band. Does style over substance win the day? The team discuss after hours studio magic, sloppy-tight aesthetics, and "energy above everything" songwriting. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Randy Newman parlayed a budding songwriting career into being a successful recording artist on 1972's Sail Away . With his offbeat singing style and clever songwriting, he's now known best as the musical voice of Pixar. The fellows discuss vocal affect, Toy Story money, and wryness. Email us your complain...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. The Mars Volta headed to Rick Rubin's Laurel Canyon "Mansion" to produce their debut album Deloused in the Comatorium . What they made is wild and ambitious by any definition, but is it a must listen? The team discuss Flea's bass playing, "slap" guitar, and the state of prog rock today. Email us your comp...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Kanye West went into seclusion and considered quitting music all together after his very public storming of the VMA stage in 2009. Instead he regrouped in Hawaii and painstakingly recorded a comeback record in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy . The boys discuss larger than life egos, vulnerability in hip...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Gang of Four were trying hard to break the mold of punk music on 1979's Entertainment! , and their wide influence persists to this day. The boys discuss guitar tones, melodic bass, and topical political lyric writing. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com List...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. D'Angelo's debut album Brown Sugar saw the young multi-instrumentalist experimenting with 1970s tropes and helping to kick off neo-soul in the 1990s. The gents discuss vamping, synth bass, falsetto vocal stacks. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com Listen to...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Bob Dylan was a folk hero popular with the politically-conscious youth of the early sixties when he decided to switch things up and "go electric" on 1965's Bringing it All Back Home . The team discuss slam poetry, unrehearsed studio bands, and the folly of decoding (any) artistic expression. Email us your...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Weather Report is the preeminent jazz fusion supergroup of the 1970s, but what happens when one of the most talented bass players of all time joins the band and starts composing? The fellas discuss musical forward-thinking into the regrettable 1980s, playing the bass like it was a horn section, and the ev...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Fleetwood Mac had the momentum of smash hit Rumours behind them when they went into the studio to record the followup, Tusk . The boys discuss the value of late night experimentations, the Mick Fleetwood drum sound plugin, and Stevie Nicks' songwriting lane. Email us your complaints (or questions / commen...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Belle and Sebastian recorded their first two records nearly back to back and since then If You're Feeling Sinister has become a cult classic. The boys discusses bouncy British melodies, out-of-tune string sections, and the "rules" of songwriting. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001A...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Metallica were a well-established touring act when they went into the studio to record their 5th album, but they wanted more. The boys welcome a special guest and discuss rhythm guitar mic'ing techniques, memorable drum fills, and bringing the blues back into heavy metal. Email us your complaints (or ques...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Lorde made her debut at age 16 and her sophomore effort Melodrama was a critically acclaimed step forward in her young career. The team discuss different singing styles, tension-building arrangements, and the slow throb of modern pop music. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumCo...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. English singer-songwriter Billy Bragg found himself with unprecedented access to Woody Guthrie's unfinished songs and asked up and coming band Wilco to collaborate with him to create Mermaid Avenue . The team discuss the challenge of re-interpretation, vocal harmonies that do and don't communicate in the...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Prince had swagger and style in spades, but he set his sights on Hollywood with the film (and soundtrack) for Purple Rain . The gents discuss 80's image curation, Eddie Van Halen, and the perils of being a prolific songwriter. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. System of a Down burst onto the LA scene in the 90's sounding like nothing before or since. In this episode, the boys discuss blast beats, rifle manufacturers, and the Armenian genocide. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail.com Listen to our episode companion pla...

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Bruce Springsteen skyrocketed to pop stardom in 1984 with Born in the USA , one of the best-selling records of all time. The team discuss under-developed melodies, snare drum sound characteristics, and subversive song lyrics. Email us your complaints (or questions / comments) at 1001AlbumComplaints@gmail....

Musicians recount the strange and unexpected story behind the making of your favorite albums. Bob Marley was a star in his native Jamaica but had yet to breakthrough to the rest of the world when he recorded Natty Dread. The fellows discuss politically-charged songs, hammond organ attack dynamics, and the insanely far reach of this music into nearly every corner of the world. Email us your complai...